Peoria council leans toward not funding Northern Parkway

Peoria owes $2.5 million on Northern Pkwy. project as part of collaboration

by Sonu Munshi - Apr. 3, 2012 09:46 AMThe Republic | azcentral.com

For a second year, the Peoria City Council is leaning toward keeping the Northern Parkway project off its long-term capital plan, which means the city could fall behind in paying its share of the project.

The city is expecting a $2.5 million bill for the current fiscal year, which it would not be able to pay because the project was not approved by the council, according to Peoria's engineering director, Andy Granger.

An additional $600,000 bill for the city's share of the project is expected in the coming budget year, which starts July 1.

For now, Glendale and Maricopa County have fronted money to get the project going. It's unclear how the county and partnering cities would move forward if Peoria continues to hold out.

The project is a collaboration between Peoria, Glendale, El Mirage and Maricopa County to widen Northern Avenue into a parkway from Loop 303 to Grand Avenue.

The first phase of the project, a 4-5-mile stretch from Sarival Avenue east to Dysart Road, got under way in March.

A Peoria council majority, led by Councilman Carlo Leone, tentatively agreed last week to again keep the project off the long-term capital-project books to draw attention to residents' concerns that the parkway would infringe on their quality of life.

The county, with lobbying from Peoria officials, has agreed to hold a public meeting, likely in September, close to the residents of the Country Meadows community, near Northern and 111th avenues.

Peoria's overall share of the project is $20.3 million. The city has to date paid $2.7 million.

City Attorney Steve Kemp again told the council that removing the project from the capital plan and not making payments does not change the agreement the city signed several years ago.

"It doesn't mean the bill goes away," Kemp said.

Kemp added that Peoria could terminate its agreement but said the city would still have to pay any outstanding amounts owed. He said pulling out would mean the city would no longer have a seat at the table to work out design and other issues.

A council majority continued to support keeping it off the city plan until project officials meet with residents to address their concerns about too much traffic traveling at high speeds, difficulty accessing Northern Avenue from their homes and detraction from their quiet lifestyle.

Although Councilwoman Joan Evans again agreed to keep the project off, she said she had hoped to see meetings organized already with residents.

"I'm really disappointed it didn't happen. ... We have to think about the people and their concerns," Evans said.